Barclay Hedge Fund Index up 3.63% in September (+5.26% YTD), index reaches new high ground and recovers from financial meltdown

Opalesque Industry Update - Hedge funds gained 3.63% in September according to the Barclay Hedge Fund Index compiled by BarclayHedge. Year-to-date the Index is up 5.26%.

“September’s gain puts the Index into new high ground,” says Sol Waksman, founder and president of BarclayHedge.

“The prior peak was established at the end of October 2007 when the Index gained 2.87 percent. It’s taken three years for hedge funds to recover from the financial meltdown and break their previous high.”

“Propelled by a robust rally in global equities, a boom in mergers, and declining credit spreads, 90 percent of the hedge funds that have sent us returns for September have reported a profit,” says Waksman.

The only losing strategy in September was the Equity Short Bias Index, which fell 6.45%.

“Selling the market short has been a difficult strategy in 2010,” says Waksman. “After four winning and four losing months this year, short-sellers are now back in the hole.”

The Barclay Fund of Funds Index gained 2.11% in September, and is up 1.25% for the year.